Contact Improvisation Dance - Fundamentals

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
In this workshop I will guide you through various playful exercises to get a taste of the fundamentals of Contact Improvisation. Main ingredients will be: Physical Listening, the ‘Small Dance’, Weight-exchange, core-connection, Rolling Point of Contact, ‘Little Animal’, Falling, and Lifting. We tune into natural movement patterns and explore how we can organise our bodies to move effortlesly. We will end with a little jam, flowing intuitively with what we’ve learned.

Every Body is welcome (all genders, all colours), no prior experience is needed. Seasoned practitioners wanting to unravel deeper layers; the fundamentals are the infinite source ;)

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼
CI is a form of improvised partner dancing exploring the physics of moving bodies in contact. We attempt to move with the unknown; listening, following and adapting to what is actually happening in the moment (Karl Frost, 2012). We dance in relation to ourselves, the space, and the ‘other’, finding a shared point of balance and move as one organism. Body-awareness and ‘sensing’ play an important role, while there are various techniques one can develop. CI originated in the 70's by a few contemporary dancers starting to experiment with gravity (like Steve Paxton).

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻
With a background in physical therapy and teaching yoga, bodies in movement are my cup of tea. Discovering Contact Impro about 5 years ago, I fell in love with this form. I experience it as an art, a therapeutic tool, a social learning space, a political research area, and sometimes even as a spiritual practice. Expressing myself through my body in this free form brings me in touch with a primal essence, where inuition takes the lead. This feels so healthy. CI helps me get to know myself in relationality, and center myself.

Next to weekly classes, I have attended multiple intensive weekend workshops with various teachers like Artem Markov, Tom Goldhand, Vega Luukkonen, Hugh Stanier, Katja mustonen and Christine Cole. I am co-organising CI Jams every second week @ the Travertijnstraat 12 and I recently initiated CI-Lab Groningen; a community-based dance class focused on movement research.

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
• Walk-in time: 19.00h
• Class: 19.30 till 22.00h
• Wear comfortable clothes which allow free movement, prefferably long sleeves (works better in the partner dance)
• Please do not wear perfume and be mindful of intense synthetic smells (natural deodorant is fine)
• Please arrive in time ;)

I am excited to share some of the basics of CI and look forward to dance with you!